The Children of Hamlin - Carmen Carter [48]
The bubbles drew together into a clumped mass. Lieutenant Yar tried to initiate radio contact, but the B Flat was silent as well as still.
“They don’t give up easily,” said Riker. “They’ll try something else, maybe the energy matrix.”
Picard shook his head. “Our phaser fire discouraged the use of that particular tactic. Remember, they’ve lost four spheres now, a loss which reduces the size of their ship.”
“And of their status,” said Deelor. “Evidently each ship begins as a cluster of three or four bubbles, but as the crew matures, more bubbles are added. Grown, as far as we can determine. A larger ship commands respect by virtue of its age.”
“So what’s next?” asked Riker. “How do … “
The bridge deck rocked violently, shaking the crew from side to side. Yellow Alert sirens flashed into life, and Picard immediately picked up the escalating whine of the ship’s engines. Overload indicators spread like fire across Worf’s console.
“Report! All stations,” shouted Picard, clutching at the arms of his chair to keep in place. “What is happening?”
Geordi La Forge was the first to pinpoint the cause. “The B Flat is trying to pull out of the tractor beam with their warp drive.”
“Data, how long can we hold them?” asked Picard.
The bridge had regained an even keel, but it was still trembling in place as the engines fought to maintain the starship’s position. The scream of their effort deafened his ears.
“Unknown. The duration is dependent on their maximum speed, which has not been measured.”
“Warp nine-point-nine,” said Deelor, then smiled wryly. “That’s highly classified information, by the way.”
Data tilted his head in contemplation of his completed equation. “In that case, our energy reserves will be depleted in approximately fourteen point six minutes.”
Picard rose to his feet, bracing himself for the rolling movement of the deck. “Yar, prepare to fire on the Choraii.”
“Phaser power at forty percent capacity, Captain,” answered the lieutenant.
“If we divert power to phasers,” said Data with a swift recalculation of his figures, “we will deplete our energy reserves in five point two minutes.”
“Captain, look!” Riker pointed to the viewscreen. A violet globe had appeared among the orange bubbles of the Choraii ship.
“Damn,” swore Picard. “They’re going to hit us with everything they’ve got.”
Riker turned to the captain expectantly, “Now what, sir?”
“Worf, maintain tractor beams.” Even as he issued the command, Picard’s mind sifted through the remaining alternatives. He could try Data’s energy-field neutralizer, but the probe had never been tested. If the tactic failed, his ship could be destroyed.
Picard took a deep breath and broadcast a second order through his communicator. “All hands. Prepare for sudden acceleration. Engineering, cut power-“
Suddenly, there was a tremendous surge of forward motion as the Choraii ship shot away, pulling the unresisting starship in its wake. Inertia dampers absorbed part of the shock, but they couldn’t prevent a severe jolt. Picard was thrown back into his chair with a force that knocked the breath out of him. On the viewer, stars were transformed to streaks of light.
“Warp two,” said Data. His grip had kept him at the helm. And dented the edges of his ops panel with the imprint of his fingers. “Warp five.”
Picard tried to speak again and managed a hoarse whisper. “Damage reports.”
“Minor damage only,” replied Riker as the information filtered through to the bridge. “All essential systems fully operative.”
“Warp nine,” called out Data.
Yar’s report came next. “Captain, weapons power is back to full capacity.”
“Sickbay to bridge.” Dr. Crusher’s voice stormed over the intercom. “What the hell was that all about? A two-second warning isn’t my idea of proper